Say No To Secrecy

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

FLORIDA CHAMBER President Richard Graves' March 8 My Word column on the ''Find It, Fix It'' bill leaves out a vital fact about this environmental measure that is before our state lawmakers.

The bill contains a ''self-audit secrecy privilege'' that would worsen an already-grave situation - our state's land, air, rivers, greenways, wetlands, wildlife and citizens especially would be subjected to more pollution of all degrees.

The secrecy privilege would be nothing less than immunity for toxic polluters. In addition, our state's Sunshine Laws - or ''open-records laws'' - protect the public's right to know, with rare exceptions for privacy and other reasons. Environmental self-audits done voluntarily by businesses do not need to be kept secret from the public.

The Environmental Protection Agency's policy statement strikes the right balance: Encourage businesses to conduct ''self-audits,'' but protect our right to know so we can be healthy and safe - prohibit any secrecy privilege.

Please urge your local legislator not to give in to business lobbyists. The public deserves to know about pollution and other damage to our environment. Urge them to oppose HB 1817 by Rep. Kelley Smith, D-Palatka, and the companion bill in the Senate, SB 1902 by Sen. Bill Bankhead, R-Ponte Vedra Beach.